Strengths: Gay has a prototypical body and frame for a modern NBA small forward, with great size at 6-foot-9 and terrific length. He has the height and wingspan of a power forward, but moves like a 6-3 guard. Much of Gay's upside is based on his athleticism. He's incredibly explosive, possessing an outstanding vertical leap. Gay is truly at his best in transition, looking smooth and effortless and without a care in the world. His quickness makes him a terror in the open floor, as he's nearly impossible to stay in front of when he has space to operate. Defensively he has great potential thanks to his height, length and extremely quick feet. His attitude is not what you would expect from a legit NCAA star, as he has plenty of hustle in him and has no problem getting dirty. Gay shows flashes of a well-rounded perimeter game, with great footwork, quick spin moves and plenty of willingness to create offense pulling up off the dribble, particularly going right. His shooting mechanics are beautiful; he has good elevation on his jump-shot and a high release point.

Weaknesses: Gay's all-around skill level lags behind his outstanding physical attributes, and he struggles at times to live up to immense expectations. Despite being an incredible athlete, Gay does not always take advantage of it, especially in half-court sets. His ball-handling is not up to par with his phenomenal first step, and he does not really know how to create space for himself off the dribble. Gay will go through long stretches in which he coasts and just doesn't ask for ball. When he's in these funks he tends to camp in the corner and not make his presence felt in half-court sets.